Domestic appliance having a door leaf which includes a recessed handle

Abstract

A domestic appliance, in particular a domestic refrigeration appliance, includes an interior chamber and an electronic control apparatus having an electronics system and being constructed to control at least one function of the domestic appliance during operation thereof. A door leaf for opening and closing the interior chamber has an inner face facing the interior chamber and an outer face facing away from the interior chamber. A recessed handle in the outer face includes a grip forming an indentation in the outer face. A lighting configuration has at least one lighting device, in particular an LED, to illuminate the recessed handle. At least a large part of the electronics system and the at least one lighting device form a common assembly disposed within the door leaf adjacent the indentation, so that the at least one lighting device can radiate light out of the indentation into the recessed handle.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A domestic refrigerator, comprising:
 an interior chamber provided for storage of food; 
 a thermally insulated body and an inner container delimiting said interior chamber: 
 a door leaf for opening and closing said interior chamber, said door leaf having an inner face facing toward said interior chamber, an outer face facing away from said interior chamber and an insulating foam disposed between said inner face and said outer face of said door leaf; 
 a recessed handle disposed in said outer face of said door leaf, said recessed handle including a grip forming an indentation being recessed relative to said outer face of said door leaf; 
 a lighting configuration having at least one lighting device configured to illuminate said recessed handle; 
 a refrigeration apparatus configured to chill said interior chamber; 
 an electronic control apparatus having an electronics system, said electronic control apparatus being configured to control said refrigeration apparatus during operation of the domestic refrigerator in such a manner that said interior chamber has at least approximately a set point temperature; and 
 at least a majority of said electronics system and said at least one lighting device forming a common assembly disposed within said door leaf next to said indentation for permitting said at least one lighting device to radiate light out of said indentation into said recessed handle. 
 
     
     
       2. The domestic refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one lighting device is an LED. 
     
     
       3. The domestic refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein said common assembly has a printed circuit board to which said at least one lighting device and electrical and electronic parts of said electronics system are fastened. 
     
     
       4. The domestic refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said door leaf has a hollow space formed therein next to said indentation of said recessed handle; 
 said common assembly is fastened in said hollow space; and 
 a wall disposed in said indentation separates said hollow space and said recessed handle, said wall has at least one opening formed therein through which the light from said at least one lighting device can radiate to illuminate said recessed handle. 
 
     
     
       5. The domestic refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein said recessed handle has a depression being only partially covered by said grip forming said indentation. 
     
     
       6. The domestic refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said door leaf is pivotable about a vertical axis; 
 a further door leaf is disposed next to said door leaf, is pivotable about a vertical axis, has an inner face and an outer face and includes a further recessed handle disposed in said outer face of said further door leaf; and 
 said further recessed handle includes a grip forming an indentation being recessed relative to said outer face of said further door leaf. 
 
     
     
       7. The domestic refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said door leaf has a hollow space formed therein next to said indentation of said recessed handle; 
 said common assembly is fastened in said hollow space; 
 a wall disposed in said indentation separates said hollow space and said recessed handle, said wall has at least one opening formed therein through which the light from said at least one lighting device can radiate to illuminate said recessed handle; 
 said outer face of said door leaf has an outer skin adhering to said insulating foam, said outer skin has a cutout and a recess in said cutout forming said hollow space having a housing for said common assembly being manufactured as a single piece and being open toward said outer face in said insulating foam; and 
 a cover outwardly covers said hollow space. 
 
     
     
       8. The domestic refrigerator according to  claim 7 , wherein said recessed handle has a depression formed therein defining walls being molded on said open housing for said common assembly, and said depression is only partially covered by said grip forming said indentation. 
     
     
       9. The domestic refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein said lighting configuration has a light guide coupled optically to said at least one lighting device, and said light guide is coupled optically to said at least one opening. 
     
     
       10. The domestic refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein said light guide at least partly closes off said at least one opening. 
     
     
       11. The domestic refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein said light guide is part of said assembly. 
     
     
       12. The domestic refrigerator according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 said door leaf and said further door leaf each have a respective side face; 
 said recessed handle of said door leaf is disposed in a vicinity of said side face of said door leaf facing said further door leaf; 
 said further recessed handle of said further door leaf is disposed in a vicinity of said side face of said further door leaf; and 
 said recessed handles of said door leaf and said further door leaf are at identical heights permitting said lighting configuration to also illuminate said further recessed handle.